There is a new set of stories online from USA Today regarding the spectacular sales of the final book in author J. K. Rowling’s series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” and of the impact this, and other books, had on the publishing industry this past year. In a series of reports, the magazine notes …read more!

J.K. Rowling will be the principal speaker at the Harvard Commencement ceremony June 5, 2008. The Harry Potter author will be featured at the prestigious university’s 357th graduation ceremony this summer in Cambridge, Massachusetts and will also receive an honorary degree. The president of Harvard said: “Perhaps no one in our time has done more …read more!

The full request for an injunction against a proposed Harry Potter Lexicon book has been filed; we began going over this 1,100 page document in this morning’s post. Please read that for the basic summary, including JK Rowling’s statement and the overview of what this document contains. These documents have now been posted on Justia.com …read more!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix received another nomination today, this from the Costume Designers Guild. The costumes created by Jany Temime for the fifth Harry Potter film received a nomination in the “Fantasy Feature Film” category. Others nominated include “Enchanted, ” “The Golden Compass,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” and …read more!

Movie Magic Magazine, on newsstands and in bookstores now, talks of the last three Harry Potter films, “Order of the Phoenix, “Half-Blood Prince,” and “Deathly Hallows” in a multiple page spread in their January 2008 issue. Featuring scores of previously released photos from the “Order of the Phoenix” filming, the magazine contains interviews with Dan …read more!

Previously we told you that author J.K. Rowling had donated an entire set of autographed copies of the Harry Potter series for auction to benefit a Scottish Rugby Club. That auction took place today in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the set selling for £6,960. Thanks to STV who let us know you can watch their news …read more!

The American Library Association continued handing out awards, and included another mention for the final book in the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling was named on the list of 2008 Notable Children’s Books, specifically in the “Older Reader” category.According to the ALA “as applied to children’s books, notable …read more!

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has nominated Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for awards in two categories. The fifth Harry Potter film was nominated in the category for “Production Design” (Stuart Craig/Stephenie McMillan), and “Special Visual Effects” (Tim Burke/John Richardson/Emma Norton/Chris Shaw). Also, actress Julie Christie (Madam Rosmerta) was …read more!

Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling’s legal team has filed its full complaint against RDR Books, the publishing company that is attempting to produce a printed, commercial version of The Harry Potter Lexicon, in an ongoing effort to get an injunction permanently halting the book’s publication. There are more than 1,100 pages in this complaint, to …read more!

The Times newspaper has compiled a list of the top 50 greatest British writers since 1945, and J.K. Rowling was ranked at number 42. Noting that children read the Harry Potter books “simply because they love them, and because Rowling has an extraordinary ability to hold the reader until the very last page,” the paper …read more!